Notre Dame To Celebrate “Coming Out As Episcopalian Day”

South Bend, IN–Just days before Notre Dame celebrates “Coming Out Day,” a day in which students can openly proclaim themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or as an ally, university officials have announced that they would be holding a first-ever “Coming Out as Episcopalian Day” to coincide with the event. “Admitting to the world and loved ones that we do not have inclinations toward the Catholic lifestyle, and that, on the contrary, we are proud Episcopalians, is a big step in taking hold of our identity…without fear,” President of the University John I. Jenkins told the press this morning. “I feel so liberated…to just get all the years of fear off my shoulders. We at Notre Dame firmly believe that God made us Episcopalian from our founding, but that because of societal pressures, we were forced to believe that it was wrong to be anything but Catholic.” According to Gender Relations Center Assistant Director of LGBTQ Initiatives Maureen Doyle, the University has slowly been “coming out” for some time now. “We are called to support our brother and sister universities in Christ, which includes celebrating the multitude of faiths that make each university unique and beautiful institutions. For colleges that may be struggling with different aspects of their religion . . . celebrations like Coming Out as Episcopalian Day help reiterate for them that this campus is a safe space, an inclusive community, where they will find support and understanding as they work to answer the question, ‘Who has God called us to be?’” At press time, Notre Dame was “super psyched” about finally being able to go that one bar so many of their fellow universities frequent.